1. The Divine Granth SRI RAMA VIJAYAM must be read sincerely, with devotion and with Complete Physical and Mental Purity & with Fresh Mind.2. Wherever you read, the Place of reading must be neat and clean. The ideal place is home temple or in a temple. 4. The Chapter should be completed in one sitting4. One should not speak while reading.5. Read with Shraddha. Read with Bhakti.

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 01Powlasti, a son of Bramhadev* was married to Deva- varni, and he had a son called Vaishrava. A daughter of Bharadwaja, a rishi, was given away in marriage to Vaishrava; and she had a son called Kuber. Bramhadev had created Lanka and given it to Kuber.

While Kuber was ruling there, a demon came from Pathal in the form of a Brahman and became very jealous of him. The demon said to himself, " Lanka is my country and this man has no right to rule here. " So saying to himself he gave away his daughter, Kakesi, in marriage to Vishrava with a view to drive out Kuber of his country, Lanka, with the help of the sons who would be born to her by him.

Vaishrava had got by Kakesi three demons, Ravana, Kumbha-karna, and Vibhishana and two demonesses, Tataka and Surpanakha. Ravana and his brothers went to Gokarna, where they performed severe penances. Siva was propitiated by Ravana, Bramhadev by Kumbhakarna, and Vishnu by Vibhishana. Bramhadev was pleased with them and called upon them to ask him for blessings.

Ravana was blessed with a power to imprison all gods and also with wealth and learning. Kumbhakarna wanted such a blessing from Bramhadev as would enable him to devour heaven and earth. All the gods were, therefore, alarmed and prayed to the goddess, Saraswati, who induced the demon to ask the god for sleep. Bramhadev blessed him with sleep, saying that the demon would rise every six months to eat his meals and indulge in all other luxuries. Vibhishana,was blessed with a power to pray always to Vishnu.

Ravana and Kumbhakarana then collected all demons including Kharadushana and Trishira and march ed against Kuber to conquer Lanka. They fought with Kuber with bravery, but the latter repulsed them with heavy loss.

Ravana then went to Vaishrava and brought his letter to Kuber asking him to give Lanka to the demon without any resistance. On reading the letter from his father he gave the country to Ravana and proceeded to heaven by a Viman*.[* A conveynance or a chariot serving as a throne through the skies, self -directed and self -moving.]

Mayasur, a demon, gave away his daughter, Mandodari, in marriage to Ravana. Pirghajwala, a grand-daughter of Bali, was married to Kumbhakarna, and Sharma, a daughter of a Gandharva[A demi-god.] to Vibhishana.

Ravana conquered all countries and devoured a large number of Brahmans and cows. He robbed Kuber of his treasure and oppressed all other people. He had eight thousand wives, one lac of sons and one lac and twenty thousand grand-sons. He had eighteen kshoyanis^ [One kshoyani consists of 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 1^09,350 foot, and 65,610 horses.] of musicians, who entertained him with music.

All kings were his slaves, and eight thousand torches lighted his sabha [A court.] every night.

All mountains for fear of Indra^[The king of the gods.]prayed to Ravana for protection, who told them to become elephants. They accordingly became elephants whom he engaged as his servants. He then marched against Indra with his eldest son, Meghanand. A severe battle took place between the gods and the demons, but the former were defeated by the latter. In that battle Meghanand flung down Indra with his hairawati[Indra’s elephant] and hence he was called India jit, the conquerer of Indra.

All the gods were seized by Ravana and released on the condition that they should serve him in his household in different capacities.All the gods became his slaves ; Indra served him as his butler, Chandra held a chatra*[* A large and lofty parasol,]over him, Kuber and Anil cleaned and washed all the things in his house. Agni served him as his washerman, and Gabhasti as his page. Brahaspati was his pleader, Bramhadev his priest, and Narada always entertained him with singing.

Ravana became a great favourite of Siva ; and by his blessing he had got ten faces and twenty hands. One day he, proud of his prosperity, went by his viman to Kailasa, the place of Siva, when Nandi^[The bull on which Siva rides.] who was guarding the door of the abode in which the god lived, prevented him from entering it. The demon was greatly insulted at the conduct of Nandi, and said " I do not care a fig of thee and thy master." So saying he began to force his way in, when Siva cursed him and said to him, " A human being and monkeys will kill thee in a battle."

Enraged at this curse he tried to pull off the mountain on which the abode of Siva stood with a view to carry it to Lanka, when the god pressed it in such a manner that the domon-king was confined to it for one thousand years. He always cried and prayed to Siva during the time for his release. One day the god pitied him and set him free.

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 02Thence he went to Sahasrarjun and praised his own strength there, when the latter caught hold of him and put him in his arms. He was ashamed and went to the kingdom of Bali, who possessed prodigious strength.

He entered the palace of the king and 1 praised his valour and bravery, when the latter said in order to test his strength, " There lie the kundalas [Ear -ornaments.] of the demon, Hiranyakashapu, whom "Vishnu had killed to protect Prahlada. Just go and get the ornaments here." Ravana went to bring them but he could not lift them up, when Bali said to him, "If thou canst bring the kundalas, just get that die which fell down there, while my wife and I were playing together. Ravana accordingly went to bring the die but, to his great surprise, he could not remove it, when both Bali and his wife heartily laughed at him.

Ravana, humbled as he was, set out for Lanka; but on the road he was robbed of his clothes and ornaments and let off with soot being applied to his ten faces and with his hands tied up behind like a prisoner. He was much troubled by the people on the road. Some threw dust at him, some slapped him in the face, some pulled him by the beard and others made him sit down on a dung-hill. A maid-servant of Bali caught him so forcibly that he implored her to spare his life.

Vaishrava then came there and begged of Bali to make a present of the demon to him. His request was granted and Ravana was let off. The demon-king returned to Lanka with shame and confusion.

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 03A few days after his return to Lanka he went to catch Vali, who carried him away in his arms to his house and tied him up to the cradle in which his son, Angada, was fast asleep. Vishrava came and requested Vali to set him free. Vali granted his request and, applying soot to all the faces of Ravana, allowed him to go to Lanka.

One day he asked Bramhadev to inform him by whose hands he would die, when the god told him that he would die by the hands of Rama, a son of Dasharatha and grand-son of Ajapal. Ravana got very indignant and said that he would kill Dasharatha and his wife by any means.

Soon after, Ajapal made preparations for celebrating the marriage of his son with Kausalya, when Narada told him to watch his son and daughter-in-law, because Ravana would kill them under any circumstances. Where upon Ajapal took Dasharatha and Kausalya on board a ship in the sea far off and was about to tell his priest to perform their marriage, when Ravana attacked the ship at night with a large army of demons and broke her in the sea. All perished except Dasharatha and Kausalya.

Ravana put Kausalya into a box and handed it over to a fish, which carried it to a desolate island and deposited it there for safety. Dasharatha struggled much with the waves of the sea but at last he got into a broken vessel, which was carried by the waves to the island, where the box was deposited by the fish.

Dasharatha landed on the sea-shore ; and seeing the box there he seated himself up on it for rest. Having got refreshed, he opened the box out of curiosity but, to his great surprise, he found Kausalya in it. Narada came there in the meantime and, having performed their marriage, blessed them, saying that the god, Rama, would be born to them.

In Lanka Ravana asked the god, Bramhadev, about his prediction. He said to the god, " Where is Dasharatha? You know, he has already perished in the sea." Bramhadev replied, "Long since Dasharatha has been married to Kausalya; and you will see that Rama will be shortly born to them."

Ravana said, "Well then, get them here." Bramhadev replied, " If I get them here, what will you give me ?" Ravana said, "I promise to give you whatever you will ask from me." Bramhadev then went and brought the box from the island and, having opened it, he showed the bride and bride- groom to the demon. As soon as he saw them, he got exceedingly enraged and was about to cut off their heads, when Bramhadev stepped forward and said to him, " You promised me that you would give me whatever I would ask from you.

I, therefore, ask you not to kill Dasharatha and Kausalya. Ravana replied, " You may ask me for any other thing but I cannot spare the lives of those wretched beings." Bramhadev said, " I do not want any other things from you but I want you to spare their lives." Ravana could not break his promise and accordingly spared their lives. Bramhadey then brought them to Ayodya, and placed Dasharatha on the throne of the country.

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 04One day while Ravana was going by his viman,[flying vehicle] he observed on the road a beautiful woman, who was the wife of a god and sought to outrage her modesty. She complained to Bramhadev against the conduct of the demon, when the god cursed him and said that if he would outrage the modesty of any woman, he would be cut into one hundred pieces. For fear of the curse he let her go.

Then he began to devour the Brahmans and cows that came in his way. The earth trembled and went in the form of a cow to Bramhadev with all the gods and Rishis and applied to him for protection, when a voice said, " I will be born in the family of Dasharatha and called Rama ; and killing Ravana and all other demons, I will make all the gods and good people happy. For the purpose of helping me the Shesha *[1000 headed serpant ] on which I lie, will be my second brother, who will be named Lakshuman, the shankhaj [conch], which is in my hand, will be my third brother, who will be called Bharata and the sudarshan [ wheel, chakra] my weapon, will be my fourth brother, who will be named Shatrughana; and ye, all the gods, will be monkeys.- Siva will be Maruti; Bramhadev, Janbuvant; Dhanavantari, Sushen; Biahasapati, Angada ; the sun, Sugriva; Agni, Nala; and Yama, Rashabha. Listening to the voice of Vishnu all the gods and Rishis were glad and returned to their respective places.

At Ayodya Dasharatha married more wives, Sumitra and Kayakayi. He was an accomplished prince and very dexterous in the use of dhanushabans.[Bows and arrows]. One day he dreamt a dream in which he found that he had killed an innocent man and woman. Where upon he asked his guru*[ Vashista, a Rishi, to interprete the dream, when the latter said to him, " This dream indicates bad omens. I, therefore, advise you to kill a few stags and perform a penance, so that nothing bad may happen to you." Listening to the advice of the guru Dasharatha went to a forest for hunting stags ; and though he worked hard the whole day, he did not come across any stag.

At the sun-set he lay in wait at a lake anxious ly expecting a stag there. But, in the meantime, a man called Shravan came there with a kavada [A bamboo lath provided with slings at each end for the conveyance across the shoulder of pitcher,] across his shoulders in which his helpless old mother and father were seated by him. His parents, being thirsty, asked their son to fetch some water for them. Whereupon Shravan placed the kavada on the ground, and taking a goblet in his hand, went to the lake ; but whilst he was taking the water, the king took him for a stag and discharged an arrow at him, which passed through his heart. Dasharatha came where he was lying and became extremely sorry for the accident.

Then Shravan said to him, " I shall not now live. Please, therefore, take some water in this goblet and give it to my parents, as they are very thirsty ; and as soon as I hear that they have quenched their thirst, I shall instantly die. They are very old and cannot walk I carry them in a kavada across my shoulder. Oh, my good king, take care of these poor creatures. There is no one to look after them."

Dasharatha sighed and wept but the loss was irreparable. The king then took some water in the goblet and stood where the kavada was placed without speaking a word. The old woman and the man, who were blind, taking him for Shravan, said, "Child, why doest thou not speak ? Art thou angry with us, because we sent thee to the lake at this hour ? Child, thou art always obedient to us and what has irritated thee to day ?"

These words made Dasharatha shed tears, and at last he broke the sad news to the old parents of Shravan, when they cried violently and said, " Shravan, none can get a son like thee in this world. We feel much for thee and die with thee. Oh, we cannot bear this grief. You, the murderer of our child, we curse you and say that you will also die of grief for your son in the same way we do." So saying they instantly expired.

Dasharatha grieved much for Shravan and his old parents whom he had killed by his own hands, and performed their funeral eremonies. The king then returned to Ayodya and informed Vashista of what had happened.

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 05At this time there was a great famine in the country, as there was no rain for twelve years; and consequently the subjects of the king died of thirst and hunger one after another. The rain was stopped, because Vrashaparva, a powerful demon, fought with the gods in heaven with the assistance of his guru, Shukra. Indra, therefore, sent a chariot to Dasharatha and requested him to come up to heaven and kill the demon, informing him at the same time, that the rain was stopped on account of the battle with the gods.

Whereupon Dasharatha went by the chariot to Indra with his favourit wife, Kayakayi.Immediately on his arrival there Dasharatha fought with the demons and killed a large number of them, when Vrashaparva made an attack upon the king but he was also repulsed.

His guru, Shukra, then took the field and discharged arrows at the king, when the chariot of the king was about to give way but his wife, Kayakayi, supported it by one of her hands, of which the king knew nothing. Dasharatha bravely continued the fight and cut off the guru s horse and mugut.[ A Tiara,]. Shukra fled in alarm with the other demons.

When every thing was over, the king was informed that the victory he had gained in the battle with the demons, was due to his wife, Kayakayi. The king was pleased with her, and asked her what reward she wanted from him. Kayakayi replied, " Kindly give me your promise that you will give me whatever I will ask from you; and I shall ask you for it whenever I like." The king generously gave the promise she required.

The victory, gained by Dasharatha in the battle with the demons, was due to Kaikeyi, because when she was young, a Tapaswi [a sage] came to her parents and stayed with them for a day. At the time of his bathing her mother told her to go and rub his body with scents. She accordingly went to him with the scents ; but finding that the Tapaswi was absorbed in meditation, she applied soot to his face instead of the scents.

Having found that the soot had been applied to his face, he got indignant and cursed the doer of the mischeif and said. " Whoever has applied this soot to my face, will always be looked upon by all people with contempt." Her mother was afraid of this curse; and finding that it was her daughter s doing, she threw herself at the feet of the Tapaswi and implored him to make the curse a little milder. Whereupon the Tapaswi said, " The hand with which your daughter has applied the soot to my face, will give success to her husband in a battle which he will fight with demons and for which only she will be praised by all."

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 06After the battle was over, Brahasapti asked the king whether he had any issue. Dasharatha replied, " I am very sorry that I have no issue." The god blessed him and said, " Vishnu, the protecting god of the universe, will be born to you." Indra said, " There is a Rishi called Shringa Rishi, who has not yet seen a human face. He lives with his father in a forest ; and if he is induced and brought to Ayodya, his father, who is a great Tapaswi, will come there in search of his son; and by his blessing you will get children. I shall, therefore, send a devangana [Celestial woman]to the forest to charm him with her beauty and singing, so that he may easily follow her." Dasharatha thanked Indra and returned to Ayodya with Kayakayi.

Indra accordingly sent a devangana to the forest. The young Rishi was placed by his father, Vibhandak, on a mala [mountain] in order that he might not be devoured by lions and tigers. The young boy, having seen the woman, was at first frightened; but soon after, he was charmed with her beauty and singing. As his father was absent, she brought him to Ayodya.

Dasharatha cordially received him; and shortly after, he gave away his foster-daughter in marriage to him. Vibhandak knew by his yoga[A union with Bramhan through abstract meditation.] that his son was taken to Ayodya in his absence, and got so much enraged that he immediately went to that city to curse the woman to death. Dasharatha treated him with respect ; and on finding that his son was married to the foster-daughter of the king, he was pleased with him and blessed him, saying that four mighty sons would be born to him.

The Rishi then made a havan [A large hole made in the ground for receiving and preserving consecrated fire.] The god, Agni,[Fire God] came out of it and entrusted to Vashista a thali [cooking pot] full of payas [A dish composed of rice, sugar, milk; sweet pudding] and told him to divide it equally among the three wives of the king, so that they might get sons, as soon as they partook of it.

Vashista made three pindas [Lumps] of the payas and gave the largest of them to Kausalya, the eldest wife of Dasharatha, and the other two to Sumitra and Kayakayi. Kayakayi, the third wife of the king, became jealous and said that ,she was entitled to the largest pinda, because she supported the chariot of the king by her own

hands, which was about to give way during the battle with the demons. While she was thus quarreling about it, a ghar [eagle, kite]from above snatched the pinda from her hands and flew in the with it. She became exceedingly sorry and began to weep, when Dasharatha prevailed upon Kausalya to divide her pinda into two halves and give one to Kayakayi and keep the other for herself. Kausalya accordingly did it; and Sumitra also did the same thing in compliance with the wishes of the king. Thus Kayakayi got one full pinda for herself, which she ate heartily. Kausalya and Sumitra ate their own halves. Soon after, the three ladies became pregnant.

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 07The pinda which was snatched by the ghar [eagle]from the hands of Kayakayi, fell by a blast of wind into the hands of Anjani, the wife of a monkey called Kesari. She also swallowed up the pinda and became pregnant.

The story of the child born to Anjani is as follows:

Anjani, the wife of Kesari, performed a severe penance for seven years on the hills called Rishiparvat, in order that the god, Siva, might be pleased to bless her with an immortal son. Siva was pleased with her and said, " An immortal son will be born to thee as thou wishest. He will be a part of my body. I, there fore, tell thee to sit here in meditation and swallow up any thing that falls into thy hands, so that thy wish may be fulfilled." So saying Siva dis-appeared. The pinda from the bill of the ghar fell into the hands of Anjani, and she swallowed it up as directed by Siva.

The ghar was a devangana who had become a bird by the curse of Indra. This god was displeased with her, because she did not dance properly; and it was appointed by Bramhadev that she would be released from the curse, as soon as the pinda fell into the hands of Anjani. The devangana was accordingly released from the curse; and after her release she went to Indra.

Anjani, after a period of nine months, was delivered of a powerful on called Maruti He was a monkey and had a long tail. When he saw the light, he was hungry; and when he did not get any thing to eat, he went to devour the sun, taking him for a fruit. At that time Rahu also came there to devour the sun, when Maruti said to him " Who art thou ? I have come here first to devour the fruit." So saying he broke the head of Rahu with his tail and, catching him by his feet, flung him down, Ketu then came to help him, but he was also severely beaten by the monkey. In the mean-time, Maruti was brought down by his father, the wind.

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 08After nine months Kausalya, Sumitra and Kayakayi were delivered of sons. Rama was bora to Kausalya Lakshuman to Sumitra ; and the twins, Bharat and Shatrughana to Kayakayi. They grew up, and the ceremonies of investing them with sacred threads were performed. They were taught by Vashista the Vedas [Sacred writings of the Hindus, and mantras.]

On his return from a pilgrimage Viswamitra, a Rishi, came to Ayodya. Dasharatha received him cordially and worshipped him with devotion. The Rishi blessed him and said to him, " Dasharatha, I want you to give me a promise [Incantations] that you will give me whatever I will ask from you." The king gave him the promise the Rishi required, when the latter said to the former, " We all the Rishis are very much troubled by the demons, Maricha, Subhahu, and others. They have often destroyed our havans; and consequently we are not able to perform our yagnya[A sacrifice.]successfully. No one can kill them except Rama. I therefore, wish you to send Rama with me to kill the demons."

Dasharatha was startled and replied, " Rishi, how can I send my tender child with you ? How can he kill the mountain-like demons ? You may ask me for any other thing but not Rama."

Vishwamitra became very indignant and said, " You ought to have considered well, before you gave me the promise. At any rate I must now take Rama with me." In the mean-time Vashista came there and advised the king to send Rama with the Rishi, saying that if he did not listen to him, he would curse him and his sons, as he was obstinate and of a choleric disposition. Dasharatha,then brought Rama and Lakshuinan before his sabha and gave them in charge of the Rishi.

Vishwamitra then accompanied by two young boys, set out for the forest, where the Rishis were performing their yadnya. But on the road they were encountered by Tatika, a hideous and frightful demoness. She had the strength of ten thousand elephants, her chest was as large as a mountain, her hair and dress were saturated with blood, the strings of dead-bodies were put round her neck, and her head was besmeared with sliindur[Keil powders.] As soon as she saw them, she opened her mouth and went with other demonesses to devour them, when Rama instantly killed her with one arrow. Twenty crores[Ten millions] of demons, headed by Banasur, a very powerful demon, then came upon Rama to revenge the killing of the demoness; but they all were repulsed by him with heavy loss. After the defeat of the demons

they proceeded on their journey ; and when they came near a shila,[A flat stone] it began to tremble as soon as the dust from the feet of Rama fell upon it ; and no sooner did he touch it with his feet, than it became a beautiful woman who, bowing to Rama, returned to her husband.

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 09Bramhadev had a very beautiful daughter, named Ahilya. Many gods and kings requested her father to give her away in marriage to them. But Bramhadev had made a condition that whoever would go round the earth and return within six hours, should marry her without loss of time. Whereupon all the kings and gods, including Indra, went round the earth, but none could return within six hours except Gowtam, a Rishi, to whom Ahilya was married agreeably to the condition.

Indra became very jealous of the Rishi and sought to outrage her modesty. Some time after his marriage he and his wife went to a river with Rishis for ablutions on the day of an eclipse. After their ablutions were over, Gowtam sat there with other Rishis for meditation ; and his wife returned home. While she was alone in her abode, Indra went there in the form of her husband and outraged her modesty. In the mean-time, Gowtam returned home; and finding Indra in the abode he cursed him and Ahilya, saying that there would be one thousand ulcers on the body of the god and that his wife would be a shila and remain in that state for sixty thousand years ; but that as there was no fault on her part, she would be released from the curse, when Rama would touch her with his feet.

Ahilya accordingly became a shila and Indra a peacock with one thousand ulcers on his body. While the god in the form of a peacock was flying about in forests, the other gods prayed to Gowtam for him, who, having been pleased with them, restored Indra to his former state and turned all the ulcers on his bodyint eyes.

After the release of Ahilya from the curse, Vishwainitra proceeded on his journey with Rama and Lakshuman. Shatanand, a son of Ahilya and the priest of the king, Janak, also accompanied him. They all arrived at the city of Mathila and put up at a garden there. At the request of Rama Vfshwawitra related the story of the birth of Sita, a daughter of Janak, which is as follows:

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 11One day Purusharam, having killed all the Kshatriyas [Warriors] on earth, came to the kingdom of Janak. He went into the palace with the king to take dinner ; and when he came out after dinner, he found that some one had removed the dhanusha [bow ] placed by him at the court of the king. He was greatly enraged and said, 'Who has taken my dhanusha !

It is so heavy that it can not be removed even by thousands of elephants.' So saying lie came out of the court with the king to look for it but, to his great surprise, he saw the girl riding on it. No sooner did she behold her father than she left the dhanusha there and ran away.

Seeing this, Purusharam said to the king, 'My incarnation is now over. Let the dhanusha be here. I now advise you to hold a suyamwar [The choosing from amongst a public assembly, of a spouse by a female.] and marry your daughter to any man who will lift up the bow and break it off. So saying Purusharam left for his abode. Soon after, the king held a suyamwar and invited to it all the kings and rishis on earth. We too are going there only' concluded Viswamithra.

All attended the suyamwar including Ravana, who came there without invitation. The king told the assembly that Sita would be married to any man who would lift up the dhanusha and break it off. Many kings* attempted to lift it up but they all failed in their attempt.

Ravana then stepped forward and loudly said with pride and vanity, 'This bow is a trifling thing to me. I shall break it off in a second. I know, ye, weak kings and Rishis, will not be able to lift it up. It is I who would lift up the dhanusha and break it off. Sita will be my wife, and 1 shall be her husband. So saying, he began to lift up the dhannsha with all his strength and force.

While he was lifting it up, it fell heavily on his breast, and consequently he panted for breath and implored others to help him, when Rama immediately removed it, at the suggestion of Viswamitra, and broke it into two pieces. Sita, who was seated all the time on the back of an elephant, put the garland in her hands round the neck of Rama, when Ravana returned to Lanka with shame and confusion.

Janak informed Dasharatha of the suyamwar and requested him to come to Mithila to celebrate the marriage of his son with Sita. Dasharatha, full of joy, went to Mithila with his wives, sons, and courtiers. Soon after, Rama was married to Sita, and Varmila, Maliti and Shrutakirti, the other daughters of Janak, to Lakshuman, Bharat, and Shatrughna respectively.

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 12Rama knew that Purusharam would come and fight with him on account of the dhanusha he had broken ; and, therefore, he did not like to stay any longer at Mithila. But at the request of his father-in-law he stayed there for a few days more. In the meantime, Narada went to Purusharam and told him that a man called Rama had broken his dhanusha.

He was greatly enraged at this news ; and having come to MithiJa, he kicked up a great row about the dhanusha.

To foment the quarrel Narada told him that Rama had broken the bow and that he was so proud that he did not even come down to receive him. Purusharam got indignant and let off arrows at Rama, which melted away, as soon as the latter saw them. Purusharam, knowing that his incarnation was over, laid down his arms and weapons, when Rama came down and embraced him heartily.

Soon after, Dasharatha, accompanied by his wives and sons, returned to Ayodya with exultation and joy. The king had invited to the marriage of Rama his brother-in- law, Sangramajit, who requested the former to send Bharat and Shatrughana to spend a few days with" him. Dasaratha bade his sons go with him, though they were unwilling to part with his brothers, Rama and Lakshuman even for a single moment. Kayakayi pressed her sons to go with her brother ; and they accordingly went with him. Rama and Lakshuman were very obedient to their parents and served them with all their heart and soul.

One day the king looking to his old age, made up his mind to install Rama in the throne of Ayodya. He made every preparation to perform the ceremony of installation and invited to it all the kings and Rishis on earth. All the gods and Brahmans were afraid that if Rama was installed in the throne of Ayodya, he would not go to Lanka and relieve them from the oppression of the demons.

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 13Viranchi,[Lord Brahma] one of the gods, therefore, sent one Vikalpa to go to Ayodya and prejudice Kayakayi and all the subjects of the king against Rama and put an obstacle in the performance of the ceremony, so that the prince might go to the forest of the demons and kill them all.

Vikalpa tried his utmost to prejudice them against Rama; but they were all so good and pious that they remained faithful to the prince. There was only one wicked woman, Mantra, a favourite maid-servant of Kayakayi, whom he prejudiced against Rama.

She hated the prince ; and with a view to deprive him of the throne of Ayodya, she went into the room of Kayakayi and, throwing herself on the ground, began to beat her breast with tears in her eyes, when Kayakayi asked her what the cause of her grief was. Mantra replied, "You, unfortunate woman! Your husband is going to install Rama in the throne of Ayodya, and as soon as he is placed on the throne, he will kill your both the sons. I shall be very glad, if your Bharat is installed in the throne.

Kayakayi said, " I have no objection to the installation of Rama whom I love. as my son, Bharat." Mantra got exceedingly enraged and began to cry violently. Kayakayi went to quiet her when Vikalpa also prejudiced her against Rama.

Mantra, seeing a sudden change in her mistress, was mightily pleased with her and kissed her. Kayakayi said, "My dearest, just tell me what I should do to get rid of Rama."

" Any how," replied Mantra, " we must send him away and have our Bharat placed on the throne of Ayodya. I, therefore, tell you with pleasure that if the king come to see you, ask him to fulfil the promise given by him to you during the battle he had fought with the demons in heaven . Do you remember the promise given by him to you. He promised you that he would give you whatever you would ask from him as a reward for helping him in the battle. You should, therefore, ask the king to send Rama to the forest of the demons for fourteen years and place Bharat on the throne of Ayodya. And another thing is that if the prince goes to the forest, the king will soon die of grief for his son ; and it will be then a very good thing for you and your sons to pass your days in happiness."

OM SAI RAM !!! SRI RAM VIJAYAM - CHAPTER 14Kayakayi liked the advice of Mantra j and before the king cameinto her room at night, she had taken off her ornaments and thrown herself on the ground with her hair in disorder.

In the meantime, the king entered her room and asked her what the matter was, when she replied, " Thou, wicked king. Be gone. I know your heart. You are going to banish my sons to a forest and give the kingdom to Rama."

Dasharatha replied, " What you say is untrue, because I love Bharat and Shatrughana as much as I love Rama and Lakshuman." Kayakayi replied, " Be gone. I do not want you in my room." The king felt it bad, when Kayakayi spoke those words; and in order to pacify her he asked her what she wanted from him,

Kayakayi replied, " The promise given to me by you during the battle with the demons, must be now fulfilled. What I want from you is that you should banish Rama to the forest of the demons for fourteen years and install my son Bharat in the throne of Ayodya."

The king was thunder-struck, when Kayakayi made the cruel demand, and persuaded her much to ask him for something else; bat she would not mind him. In the meantime, his faithful minister, Sumntra came and informed the king, who was lying on the ground in disorder, that everything was ready for performing the ceremony of installation, when the latter told the former what had happened in the room of Kayakayi. The minister, being exceedingly sorry, went and called Rama in the room of Kayakayi.

The prince came and implored his father to tell him the cause of his grief, when Kayakayi replied "The king had given me a promise at the battle with the demons that he would give me whatever I would ask from him. I have asked him to fulfil that promise, and since then he has been very sorry." Rama said, " I think, he is not able enongh to comply with your demand." Kayakayi repled, " I should think so."

Well" said Rama, " if my father cannot give you what you want from him, I promise to give it to you." Kayakayi replied, "Then go to the forest of the demons for fourteen years with Lakshuman and let my son, Bharat, rule in Ayodya. " Rama said, " Most willingly. I have no objection to do so. It is just the same thing to me, because Bharat and I are one."